Guidance for Issuing Movement Permits

Upon diagnosis of FMD, a National Movement Standstill may be issued. Once the initial extent of the outbreak is defined and movement permitting systems are established, cattle movements can restart for premises with no evidence of infection. This is described in more detail in the Managed Movement document. Periods of no animal movement at the beginning of an outbreak will impact producers’ business continuity. Guidance is available in the Contingency Planning Considerations for Producers during an FMD Outbreak.

Guidance on issuing movement permits for cattle or semen with no evidence of infection is provided below and in the SBS Plan.

Movement permit guidance for cattle grazing federal public lands within an FMD control area is described in the Movement Decision Criteria for Industry and Regulatory Officials Managing Cattle and Sheep Grazing Federal Public Lands during an FMD Outbreak.

Conditions to Meet to Request a Permit to Move Cattle/Semen/Embryos

  1. Traceability information is available (PIN, GPS Coordinates, and information on type and number of animals/quantity of semen to be moved).
  2. Biosecurity measures listed in the Biosecurity Checklist for Beef Feedlots or Cattle on Pasture are in place and acceptable to Responsible Regulatory Officials.
  3. Trace back/forward information* is acceptable (premises is not Infected, Suspect, or Contact).
  4. Destination premises and State are willing to accept the animals or semen.
  5. No evidence of infection based on disease monitoring (surveillance).**

Regulatory Officials
may issue a
movement permit
if conditions are met

*Producers can provide trace back and trace forward information by maintaining accurate records of movement of animals, feed, supplies, equipment, personnel, and visitors. Producers can use the SBS Practice Questionnaire for FMD Exposure to get a feel for the information they may need to provide in an outbreak.

**The Bovine Germplasm Movement Plan guidance describes additional considerations to meet the “No evidence of infection based on disease monitoring (surveillance)” criteria for the movement within or out of a Control Area of high genomic merit animals entering the germplasm segment of the industry, as well as semen and embryos. An overview is provided in the Executive Summary.